Break Over, Giants Return To Business

By FRANK LITSKY, Special to The New York Times

Published: December 29, 1989

Greg Cox visited his father in Columbus, Ohio. Carl Banks saw his in-laws in Lanham, Md. Dwayne Jiles went home to Plano, Tex., and helped his daughter, Lauren, celebrate her first Christmas. Sheldon White spent time with his family in Dayton, Ohio, and Jumbo Elliott with his family in Lake Ronkonkoma, L.I. Lawrence Taylor played golf in Puerto Rico from sunrise to sundown.

Today, the Giants returned to work. A little of the work was preparation for their first game in the National Football League playoffs, although they do not yet know their opponent. Most of the work had to do with conditioning. Serious Practice Next Week

They will go through similar workouts at Giants Stadium on Friday and Saturday, then take Sunday and Monday off. They will return Tuesday and begin serious practice for their playoff game here the following Sunday. By then, they will know if their opponent will be the Los Angeles Rams or the Minnesota Vikings.

Coach Bill Parcells said he had these goals this week for the Giants:

* Heal bumps and bruises.

* Maintain timing.

* Work on Rams and Vikings plays and formations that hurt the Giants in their games against those teams this season.

* Improve overall conditioning.

''I see these games on television,'' Parcells said, ''and some teams don't look like they can play more than half the game. They seem to lack conditioning. So we can run them and make them lift weights, and we're going to have a weigh-in next week.''

The players did wind sprints today and will probably do more. Three years ago, after the Giants won their division title, Parcells gave them four days off. When they returned, two players had tight hamstrings. Neither player became injured, but Parcells remembered and brought the players back a day earlier this year. Basically Healthy

In general, the Giants are healthy. The main concern is Brian Williams, the rookie who has been starting at right guard. He strained his left knee in Sunday' 34-17 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders. Although he will not require surgery, there is no indication yet whether he can play in the next game.

''He was progressing fine,'' Parcells said.

Parcells said Reyna Thompson (strained right knee) should be all right in a day or two. He said Elliott (back) had been ready for two weeks, although he has played sparingly. He said that Odessa Turner (bruised left knee), who was inactive for the last three games, looked better, ''though it looks like a little something is missing.''

Although Elliott had been playing, Eric Moore had been starting for him at left tackle and Williams had been starting for Moore at right guard. The situation is uncertain now because of the injury to Williams.

''We've got some versatile guys,'' Parcells said. ''This has been a very important part of the stretch run, with Eric Moore, Brian Williams and Bob Kratch filling in.''

When Williams was injured, Kratch, also a rookie, replaced him. Frank Winters has also played some as a backup guard. Dorsey Is Improving

Eric Dorsey continued to look and feel better and seemed likely to be activated. The starting defensive end missed the last 13 games with a broken right foot. Dorsey said he had taken part in all drills and had survived hits on the foot, and he said he was probably at 90 percent efficiency.

Raul Allegre, who has missed the last six games with a strained muscle in his right thigh, is also on injured reserve. He is kicking daily, and today he made one of two field-goal attempts from 55 yards. Still, Bjorn Nittmo has the job and may keep it for now.

Mark Bavaro has missed six games with a sprained left knee, and his progress has slowed. The next stop for the starting tight end may be surgery rather than activation.

The players seemed happy about this week's healing period and shorter practices. They said the week off should help. Parcells said he was reserving judgment.

''It's only an advantage if you make it that and win the next game,'' he said. ''And you make it by doing some things. Otherwise, it can be a detriment.''